Happier With Sleep

By Editorial Staff

Notice not so many people seem happy these days? You can blame social media, the economy, political divisiveness, or any number of other realities – but don't forget about the role sleep plays in how we feel.

The study evaluated sleep habits and mental health during a particularly stressful time: the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (spring-autumn 2020). Participants regularly self-reported their sleep quality and mental well-being during the pandemic; as well as their tendency to use adaptive "cognitive-emotion regulation" (CER) strategies (defined in the study as "positively focused thought processes") to help promote mental health. The researchers wanted to see how each independently impacted mental health; and how sleep quality affected participants' use of CER strategies.

Greater use of CER strategies and higher-quality sleep were independently associated with lower self-reported anxiety and depression, according to study findings. What's more, the positive influence of CER was modified by different levels of quality sleep, with better-quality sleep promoting CER's effectiveness vs. lower-quality sleep. Findings appear in the research journal Cortex.

Whether short-term or chronic, stress can have a significant impact on your mental health. When you combine poor sleep and stress, you've got an ugly combination that can turn your world upside down before you know it. (Unfortunately, one often leads to the other.) Knowledge is half of the battle: By understanding how to manage mental-health challenges and get better sleep, you can improve both and enjoy a happier, healthier you!